Three people were brought to safety by fire service rope rescue crews after a hot air balloon crashed into power lines, leaving its basket suspended 13 metres (45ft) above the ground.

Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue service said the balloonists had been transferred to the care of the ambulance service following the rescue operation close to Bozeat, near Wellingborough, although they are not thought to have suffered serious injuries.

A brigade spokesman said specialist working-at-height teams had been deployed to the incident, which was reported to the emergency services at 6.10pm on Sunday.

Rescue teams were sent to the scene immediately, but had to wait several hours for confirmation that the power lines were no longer live before helping those stranded in the basket.